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Ok The Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Program MAY 2020
Table of contents
The AISH program .......................................................................................................................... 3
AISH benefits .................................................................................................................................. 4
Living allowance ........................................................................................................................ 4
Child benefit .............................................................................................................................. 4
Health benefits .......................................................................................................................... 4
Personal benefits ...................................................................................................................... 6
AISH eligibility criteria ................................................................................................................... 8
Age and residency criteria ........................................................................................................ 8
Medical criteria .......................................................................................................................... 8
Financial criteria ........................................................................................................................ 8
Medical eligibility criteria ............................................................................................................... 9
Financial eligibility criteria ............................................................................................................ 9
Income....................................................................................................................................... 9
Assets...................................................................................................................................... 15
Applying for AISH ......................................................................................................................... 18
Understanding the application process ................................................................................... 18
Getting a decision about your eligibility................................................................................... 18
Reopening your AISH file ........................................................................................................ 19
Applying for other benefits while waiting ................................................................................. 19
AISH payment details ................................................................................................................... 20
Getting your payments ............................................................................................................ 20
Reporting changes to AISH ......................................................................................................... 22
Overpayments, underpayments and debts ............................................................................... 24
Reasons overpayments and underpayments happen ............................................................ 24
To prevent being overpaid or underpaid ................................................................................. 24
When overpayments happen .................................................................................................. 24
When underpayments happen ................................................................................................ 25
Appealing an AISH decision ........................................................................................................ 27
Terms and definitions .................................................................................................................. 28
Contact information ..................................................................................................................... 30
AISH office locations ............................................................................................................... 30
Other help ............................................................................................................................... 32
2 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020The AISH program
The Assured Income for Severely Handicapped (AISH) program provides financial and health
benefits to eligible adult Albertans with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from
earning a living.
If you are eligible for AISH you may receive:
• a monthly living allowance – money to pay for your living costs such as food, rent and utilities
• a monthly child benefit – money to assist you with raising your dependent children
• health benefits – assistance to cover health needs for you, your spouse or partner and your
dependent children
• personal benefits – money over and above your monthly living allowance for specific needs
such as a special diet or assistance in an emergency
This guide will help you learn more about the AISH program and benefits. You can also get
information from any AISH office listed at the end of this guide, the Alberta Supports Contact
Centre, or the AISH Policy Manual at humanservices.alberta.ca/AWonline/AISH/7180.html.
Your Guide to AISH contains general information about the Assured Income for the Severely
Handicapped (AISH) program and reflects what is in AISH legislation, regulations and the AISH
Policy Manual. If there are any differences between what is in this document, the policy manual
and the legislation and regulations, the legislation and regulations shall prevail.
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 3AISH benefits
AISH coverage may include a monthly living allowance, health benefits and personal benefits for
you, your spouse or partner, and your dependent children.
Living allowance
Standard living allowance
This monthly benefit is provided to those who rent or own a home, apartment or condo; live with
family; live in a private group home; or are homeless. The amount you get depends on any other
income that you or your spouse or partner may have.
Modified living allowance
This monthly benefit is available for individuals who live in an approved nursing home, auxiliary
hospital or designated supportive living (DSL) facility. The amount you get may depend on other
income you, or your spouse or partner, may have. The modified living allowances includes a
personal allowance paid to you and an accommodation amount paid directly to the facility.
Visit alberta.ca/health-care-facilities to see Alberta’s health facility lists or contact an AISH
office to find out if your facility is approved for modified AISH.
Child benefit
You may also receive a monthly child benefit for your dependent children.
Health benefits
Health benefit coverage may be provided for you, your spouse or partner, and dependent
children. You receive an AISH Health Benefits Card to show pharmacists, dentists and other
health-service providers every time you need health benefits.
Your AISH Health Benefits Card is only valid in Alberta – if you are planning to travel outside
Alberta you:
• will continue to be covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan for insured services
like doctor or emergency room visits within Canada
• will not be covered or reimbursed for any of the health benefits AISH provides while traveling
outside of Alberta
4 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020• can talk with your AISH worker at least one week before you leave the province to arrange
for an extra supply of prescription drugs if you will be away for a long time.
If you need a drug or service the AISH Health Benefits Card does not cover, or you are denied a
health benefit you requested, talk to your AISH worker about how to request it through the Health
Benefits Exception process.
These are the health benefits you may get through AISH:
Prescription drugs
You can see the medications AISH covers on the Government of Alberta Drug Benefit List at
alberta.ca/drug-benefit-list-and-drug-review-process. Some over-the-counter items and
nutritional products may also be covered. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to help you with these
items.
Diabetic supplies
These are the diabetic supplies AISH covers:
• test strips
• lancing devices
• glucose calibration solution
• infusion sets (tubing and needle)
• insulin cartridges / reservoirs
• insulin pen needles
• insulin syringes
Optical
Talk to your eye doctor, optician or ophthalmologist about AISH’s basic optical coverage, which
includes:
• one eye exam every 2 years for adults – children’s eye exams are covered under Alberta
Health Care
• one pair of glasses every 2 years for adults and every year for dependent children.
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 5Dental services
Ask your dentist, denturist or dental hygienist for more details about AISH’s basic dental
coverage, which includes:
• check-ups
• cleaning teeth
• x-rays
• fillings
• removing teeth
• dentures
• other dental services.
Emergency ambulance
• AISH covers ambulance trips to the closest emergency room.
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)
• You do not have to pay the cost-share amount for AADL-approved items.
Personal benefits
These are benefits for specific needs over and above your monthly AISH living allowance. They
may be covered for you and your dependent children. Some personal benefits may need to be
repaid. To be eligible, you must:
• have no more than $5,000 in non-exempt assets such as cash, investments and bonds, or be
in a financial hardship situation
• demonstrate a need for the benefit
• not be eligible under any other program or source and
• meet the specific requirements for each personal benefit.
Talk to your AISH worker to find out more about AISH personal benefits, or if you need help with
an expense not normally covered by AISH.
6 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020Eligibility for these benefits is determined on a case-by-case basis. Talk to your worker to understand how they might apply to you and what rates you might be eligible for. May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 7
AISH eligibility criteria
AISH considers your age, where you live, and your financial and medical situations to decide
whether you qualify for the program. You must meet age, residency, medical and financial
eligibility criteria to be approved for AISH, and while you are receiving a monthly living allowance
and benefits.
Age and residency criteria
To be eligible for AISH you must be at least 18 years old and not eligible to receive an Old Age
Security pension. You must live in Alberta and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You
cannot live in a correctional facility or a mental health facility, such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
Medical criteria
To receive AISH, you must have a medical condition that is likely to be permanent. It must be the
main factor limiting your ability to earn a living, not other factors such as your education level.
AISH also looks at medical treatment, therapy, rehabilitation and training that are available to help
you improve your ability to earn a living.
Financial criteria
AISH looks at the income and assets you and your spouse or partner have when considering
financial eligibility. Review the next sections in this guide to find out how income and assets affect
whether you qualify for an AISH monthly living allowance and other benefits. Keep these facts in
mind when you apply for, or receive AISH:
• you and your spouse or partner must apply for all other income you may be eligible for, such
as Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D), employment insurance (EI) or Workers’
Compensation Board (WCB) benefits
• you and your spouse or partner cannot have income or assets that are higher than the AISH
program allows
• you can work and be eligible for AISH – AISH clients are encouraged to work as much as
they are able.
8 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020Medical eligibility criteria
AISH considers the information you and your doctors provide to understand how your medical
condition impacts you and your ability to earn a living. To be medically eligible for AISH, your
application and medical information must show you have a severe handicap.
Based on the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped General Regulation, there are three
eligibility criteria you must meet to show you have a severe handicap:
1. your mental and/or physical functioning is impaired
2. this impairment substantially limits your ability to earn a living and
3. this impairment is likely permanent because there is no therapy available to improve your
ability to earn a living.
You must also meet two additional criteria in the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped
General Regulation, which says you are expected to:
1. look for, accept or maintain reasonable employment
2. make use of suitable training or rehabilitation.
If you are approved for the AISH program, you may need to show you are medically eligible again
at a later date. AISH will ask for new medical information to understand if your medical condition
has changed.
Financial eligibility criteria
Income
AISH looks at the income you and your spouse or partner have when considering financial
eligibility. We typically consider income reported on your income tax and your spouse or partner’s
income tax form. We do not consider a dependent child’s income. All income must be reported to
AISH.
How AISH treats income depends on where it comes from and whether it is received by you or
your spouse or partner. Some income is not counted. Other income is counted at full value or at
part of its value. If you are eligible for the standard living allowance, the amount that is counted is
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 9subtracted from the AISH monthly living allowance. Depending on your situation, you may get all
of the monthly living allowance or less.
Exempt income
Some income is exempt – this means it is not counted. Exempt income does not affect your
AISH monthly living allowance. It includes:
• cash gifts
• income tax refunds
• income for the benefit of a dependent child under
a child support agreement
the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act
• benefits your spouse or partner receives through AISH or the Alberta Seniors and Housing
Ministry
• Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) payments
• Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) payments
• funding for education at a school or educational institute that is recognized under the Income
Tax Act (Canada), such as:
a scholarship
a bursary
Educational Assistance Payments (EAPs) paid to a beneficiary under a Registered
Education Savings Plan (RESP)
an employment insurance grant for education or training
a grant to start a business
an artist grant
• an award or prize for an outstanding academic or community achievement
• honoraria
• death benefits
10 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020• money for home repairs or renovations from the Government of Canada, Government of
Alberta or from a community service organization
• money from rent supplement programs provided by the Government of Alberta or by an
organization that administers rent subsidies on behalf of the provincial government such as
the Capital Region Housing Corporation and Calgary Housing Company
• an income exemption amount on money received for a one-time cost of living increase from
the Government of Canada.
Non-exempt income
Some income is non-exempt – this means it is counted at full value when determining AISH
benefits. Non-exempt income is subtracted dollar-for-dollar from your AISH monthly living
allowance. It includes your income from:
• spousal support payments
• Canada Pension Plan Disability benefit (CPP-D)
• Canada Pension Plan retirement pension (CPP)
• Canada Pension Plan survivor’s pension
• Canada Pension Plan children’s benefits
• employment insurance (EI) income
• Old Age Security Allowance for Survivor
• regular or lump-sum payments from previous employment pension programs such as military
pensions, provincial pension plans, retirement compensation arrangements, etc.
• Treaty Indian pension income
• pension-related annuities
• sponsorship value – the amount of support an immigrant’s sponsor provides
• Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) benefits.
Partially exempt income
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 11Some income is partially exempt – this means it is counted at part of its value when
determining AISH benefits. Partially exempt income may affect the amount of AISH monthly living
allowance you get. It includes:
• income paid to you by your employer, such as:
wages
a retirement allowance
a training allowance
commission
awards or prizes for employment achievement
deferred profit sharing
long-term disability where your employer pays your premiums
northern living allowance
severance pay
sheltered workshop income
Treaty Indian employment income
business or commission income
• self-employment income from:
your business
working as a designated professional, such as an accountant, doctor, engineer, etc.
commissions
farming
fishing
• passive business income from:
interest
dividends
12 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020 capital gains
investments
a trust
rental income
mineral or oil royalties
land lease for oil exploration
a limited or non-active partnership
• income your spouse or partner receives from:
spousal support payments
Alberta Seniors Benefit
Canada Pension Plan Disability benefit (CPP-D)
Canada Pension Plan retirement pension (CPP)
Canada Pension Plan survivor’s pension
Canada Pension Plan children’s benefits
employment insurance (EI) benefits
Old Age Security Allowance (OAS)
Old Age Security Allowance for Survivor
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
regular or lump-sum payments from previous employment pension programs like military
pensions, provincial pension plans, retirement compensation arrangements, etc.
Treaty Indian pension income
pension-related annuities
sponsorship value – the amount of support an immigrant’s sponsor provides
Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) benefits.
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 13Single and family income exemptions
AISH uses single and family income exemption amounts to figure out how much AISH living
allowance you will get when you and your spouse or partner have income from employment, self-
employment, passive business and/or pension income.
The single income exemption amounts are for:
• a single applicant or AISH client
• a couple, with no dependent children, who are both eligible for AISH. In this case each
partner or spouse receives the single exemption.
The family exemption amounts are for:
• a single applicant or AISH client with dependent children
• a couple, with or without dependent children, when ONLY one spouse or partner is eligible for
AISH. In this case the income of each partner or spouse is combined and the couple or family
receives the family exemption
• a couple, with dependent children, who are both eligible for AISH. In this case one spouse or
partner receives the family exemption and one receives the single exemption. The exemption
given to each spouse or partner is decided by how the family will receive the most AISH living
allowance.
Employment and AISH
AISH encourages you to work as much as you are able. We look at all the income you and your
spouse or partner have and subtract allowable Canada Revenue Agency employment deductions
like CPP and EI. Then, depending on your situation, we will figure out how much AISH living
allowance you will get by using either the single income exemption amounts or the family income
exemption amounts.
There are three steps to figure out your AISH monthly living allowance:
Step 1. Use the single or family income exemption amounts that apply to your situation to figure
out your income exemption amount.
Step 2. Subtract your income exemption amount from your monthly take home pay after
deductions.
14 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020Step 3. Subtract the amount you get in Step 2 from the maximum AISH monthly living allowance
to get your AISH monthly living allowance.
Assets
Assets are items of value like cash, investments, property and vehicles that you or your spouse or
partner have. AISH looks at the assets you and your spouse or partner have when determining if
you are eligible for AISH. We do not consider assets your parents or dependent children have. All
assets must be reported to AISH. Some may affect your eligibility for AISH benefits and others
may not. You need to provide documents that show the current value of your assets, such as:
• bank statements
• property assessments
• quarterly statements
• income tax returns
• annual financial statements
• trust documents.
Exempt assets
Some assets are exempt – this means they are not counted. Exempt assets do not affect your
eligibility for AISH benefits. They include:
• the main home or quarter section where you live, or where your spouse or partner, or
dependent children live if you are in a health care facility or institution
• a main vehicle that is not used for recreational purposes
• a vehicle adapted for a disability that either you, your spouse or partner, or dependent
children have
• a Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA)
• a Locked-in Retirement Income Fund (LRIF)
• a Life Income Fund (LIF)
• a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 15• clothing
• reasonable household items
• a pre-paid funeral
• a trust
• assets held by a trustee in a bankruptcy proceeding
• a non-commutable annuity purchased on or before February 1, 2002
• money received from specific Government of Canada or Government of Alberta payments, or
assets purchased with that money; however, interest earned on this money is not exempt.
Non-exempt assets
Some assets as non-exempt – this means they are counted. Non-exempt assets affect your
eligibility for AISH benefits. The total market value of all the non-exempt assets cannot be worth
more than $100,000 when added together in order for you to be eligible for AISH. If you or your
spouse or partner have a written agreement showing outstanding debt on an exempt asset, AISH
will reduce the market value of that asset by the amount of debt you owe. Non-exempt assets
include:
• chequing or savings accounts
• cash and uncashed cheques
• Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs)
• term deposits
• Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)
• Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs)
• annuities
• Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)
• tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs)
• stocks
16 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020• bonds such as Canada Savings Bonds, other government bonds, strip bonds and corporate
bonds
• mutual funds
• cash value of life insurance
• shares
• a loan owed to you or your spouse
• business or farm assets to earn an income such as:
a commercial firm
business property such as a shop, vehicles and equipment
farm land, buildings, crops, livestock, machinery, vehicles and equipment
a home-based business
rental property
• a recreational property or home
• recreational vehicles.
Temporary asset exemption
When you receive money that AISH does not consider income, you have 365 days to invest it in
an exempt asset listed above or it will be counted as a non-exempt asset. This money may
include:
• an inheritance
• a gift
• funds from selling the main home or quarter section where you lived and that AISH already
considered exempt
• funds from selling your main or adapted vehicle that AISH already considered exempt
• funds from an insurance pay-out to cover damages to, or loss of, your main home or vehicle
that AISH already considered exempt.
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 17Applying for AISH
You will need an AISH Application form and the Your Guide to Completing the AISH Application
to get started. The guide will help you understand how to complete and provide the form and
other documents to support your application.
The form and Your Guide to Completing the AISH Application are available through the AISH
website at alberta.ca/aish-how-to-apply.aspx. You can also get them by calling the Alberta
Supports Contact Centre or at any AISH office listed at the end of this guide.
Understanding the application process
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. We check to make sure you have
included all the personal, medical and financial information we need to decide if you are eligible
for AISH. If everything is included, we say your application is received. If anything is missing, we
will contact you and ask for it.
Once your application is received, we review the personal, medical and financial information in
that order to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria. If you meet the age and residency
criteria, then we decide whether you meet the medical eligibility criteria by considering the
medical information you and your doctors provided. Last, we will review your financial eligibility. If
you do not meet the eligibility criteria at any stage of the application, you will not be approved for
AISH and your application will not be further reviewed.
Application processing times vary depending on the number of applications AISH receives and
how quickly we get all the personal, medical, and financial information needed for a complete
application.
Applicants who are receiving end-of-life palliative care and/or have been diagnosed with a
terminal illness are prioritized.
Getting a decision about your eligibility
If your application is approved:
• you will get a letter saying you are eligible for AISH
• your benefits will be backdated to the month AISH received all the information that is needed
to approve the application
18 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020• you will be contacted by phone or mail to schedule a meeting with an AISH worker to finish
the application process and start your AISH benefits and
• we will ask you to provide your Alberta Personal Health Card number, social insurance
number and other documents that relate to your situation.
If your application is not approved, you will get a letter explaining:
• why you are not eligible for AISH – this may be due to financial, medical or other reasons
• how you can give AISH more information showing a change in your situation
• who to contact if you have questions
• how you can appeal the decision
• where to find out about other financial and health benefit programs that may help you.
Reopening your AISH file
If you leave AISH, you may have your AISH file reopened if:
• it has been less than two years since you got your last AISH benefits and
• you did not leave AISH due to a change in your medical situation.
To find out if these reasons relate to you, contact any AISH office listed at the end of this guide. If
they do not, you will need to reapply.
Applying for other benefits while waiting
You may apply for other benefits and services, such as Income Support and health benefits, while
you are waiting for a decision from the AISH program. Call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre
listed at the end of this guide to find out how.
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 19AISH payment details
Getting your payments
AISH benefits are paid via direct deposit into your bank account.
If you do not have a bank account, you can open one at any bank or credit union. Contact your
AISH worker if you need assistance or you are unable to set up direct deposit.
Once you have a bank account, there are two ways to set up direct deposit:
1. Prepare your own direct deposit forms:
• fill in the Direct Deposit Registration form available at alberta.ca/AISH-payment-
details.aspx or get one from your local AISH office or call the Alberta Supports Contact
Centre listed at the end of this guide, and
write VOID on an unsigned cheque and attach it to the form, or
print your online bank account information, including your name, branch number,
bank number and account number, and attach it to the form
provide the documents to your AISH worker.
2. Get help from your bank or credit union:
• have your bank help fill in, stamp and sign the Direct Deposit Registration form
• sign the form
• provide the form to your AISH worker, or
• get a document from your bank that includes your name and your banking information.
If you change your bank account and you have direct deposit, contact your AISH worker as soon
as possible to make sure you do not miss any AISH payments.
Protecting your privacy
We do not share information about your AISH benefits with your bank. We only use this
information to deposit funds directly into your account.
Getting help from a financial administrator
20 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020If you need help managing your monthly AISH living allowance and benefits, AISH can assist you with finding a financial administrator. The financial administrator must make sure your AISH living allowance is spent on you and keep records that show how the money was spent. The financial administrator has the same responsibility as you – they must report any change in your medical condition, ability to work, income or assets. If you are interested in adding a financial administrator to your AISH file, contact your AISH worker. Monthly statement You will get a statement from AISH after your deposit is made showing the date, amount of your deposit and a breakdown of the income you received. Your statement may also include important messages from AISH such as information about your benefits. If you are eligible for a Health Benefits Card, it will be sent with your monthly statement. It is important to review this statement and report any incorrect information or changes in your situation. May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 21
Reporting changes to AISH
You are responsible for reporting any changes in your financial, medical or living situation to
make sure you get the benefits you are eligible for. Contact your AISH worker as soon as
possible to report any changes including:
• marital or partner relationship status
• medical condition
• address, phone number or other contact information
• number of children/dependents
• children turning 18
• your ability to work or take training or rehabilitation
• starting, stopping or changes in a job/employment/work
• income you, or your spouse or partner get
• assets you, or your spouse or partner have
• eligibility for health or personal benefits
• when you, or your spouse or partner, or dependent children:
move to another home
move away from Alberta permanently
leave Alberta for more than 30 days
stay in hospital, or move to or from a nursing home, mental health facility, group home or
prison
• any other change that could impact your AISH eligibility or benefit levels.
To avoid an overpayment or underpayment, it is also important to report any errors in your
monthly AISH benefits such as:
• being paid too much or too little
• not getting all the benefits you are eligible for.
22 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020If you no longer qualify for AISH because your Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefits or employment income is too high, you may still be eligible for the Alberta Adult Health Benefit. To find out more, call 1-877-469-5437 or 780-427-6848 in Edmonton, or visit alberta.ca/alberta- adult-health-benefit.aspx. May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 23
Overpayments, underpayments
and debts
Reasons overpayments and underpayments happen
Overpayments and underpayments happen when:
• you forget to tell us your situation has changed and you continue to receive more or less
AISH benefits than you are eligible for
• you use your benefits for a different purpose than you are supposed to
• you tell us your situation has changed, but your benefits have already been issued
• we make an error in your payment amount.
To prevent being overpaid or underpaid
You must report changes in your financial, medical or living situation to your AISH worker as soon
as they happen. If you see an error in your monthly benefits statement, tell your AISH worker as
soon as possible.
When overpayments happen
When AISH finds a payment that might be an overpayment, we send you a letter. You then have
an opportunity to provide information within 30 days. You can provide information about the
overpayment and/or explain why you think you should not have to repay it. Your requirement to
repay an overpayment can be waived in some situations. For example, if the overpayment
happened because AISH made a mistake.
An overpayment will not be waived when it:
• has turned into a debt
• happened because of fraud or willful misrepresentation
• is the result of a defaulted sponsorship agreement
• is due to a retroactive payment from another program, such as Canada Pension Plan
• does not meet the AISH policy criteria to be waived.
24 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020AISH will review the information you provide before deciding whether or not:
1. an overpayment occurred
2. you will need to repay the overpayment amount.
If an overpayment occurred, AISH sends you a second letter with these two decisions. The letter
also tells you about your right to appeal. Both of the decisions can be appealed within 30 days.
Contact the Appeals Secretariat or your local AISH office listed at the end of this guide if you
have questions about appealing AISH’s overpayment decision.
Overpayments become debts
When your overpayment becomes a debt, it means you must pay the Government of Alberta
back for the benefits you received and were not eligible for. The Government of Alberta will start
collecting a debt:
• after you sign a repayment agreement, or
• once 30 days have passed since you received your Notice of Overpayment and you have not
filed an appeal or asked for more time to file an appeal.
Debt collection
Once your overpayment becomes a debt, collection may start. A debt is usually collected by
subtracting some money from your AISH living allowance each month until your debt is paid back.
The monthly collection amount is 10 per cent of the AISH maximum living allowance or modified
living allowance you get.
If you are having a very hard time meeting your basic needs, this amount may be lowered.
Contact your AISH worker to talk about your repayment amount.
If your AISH file closes, you still have to pay your debt:
• AISH will send you a letter to explain how to make these payments
• if you do not make payment arrangements, your debt may be sent to a collection agency.
When underpayments happen
If you receive less AISH benefits than you are eligible for:
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 25• AISH pays the full amount of an underpayment for the entire time you received less benefits
than you were eligible for
• before you are paid, money from an underpayment may be used to pay debts you have to the
Alberta government.
Contact your AISH worker if you think you have been underpaid.
26 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020Appealing an AISH decision If you do not agree with a decision AISH makes about your benefits, you have the right to appeal that decision. When you appeal a decision, you are saying you disagree with the decision and you are asking for it to be changed. Make sure to appeal within 30 days from the date you get the letter from AISH telling you about the decision and your right to appeal. Your appeal must be in writing. You can also: • appeal on behalf of another person • allow someone to appeal on your behalf • file an appeal if you are still waiting for more information • ask for more time if you do not file your appeal within 30 days of receiving AISH’s decision. Find out how to file an appeal and get the forms you need at alberta.ca/appeal-an-aish- decision.aspx, or contact your local AISH office listed at the end of this guide, or call an Appeals Secretariat office at: • 780-427-2709 in Edmonton • 403-297-5636 in Calgary • 403-340-5531 in Red Deer • 403-381-5681 in Lethbridge • 310-0000 then dial one of the numbers above for a toll-free call. The Appeals Secretariat is a neutral government office that runs separately from AISH. They provide information and assistance to help you understand the appeals process. May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 27
Terms and definitions
Dependent child
A child who is dependent on you for support and lives with you at least 50 per cent of the time
and:
• does not have a spouse or partner
• is under 18, or 18 or 19 and going to high school.
Designated supportive living facility
There are spaces in some facilities that are approved by AISH as a designated supportive living
(DSL) unit because they meet an AISH applicant’s or client’s care needs. Contact the AISH
program to find out if a facility is approved for AISH clients.
Financial hardship
This means you are having a very hard time meeting your basic needs. If you are unable to
arrange your situation and finances to meet your basic needs, and those of your spouse or
partner and any dependent children, you may be considered in financial hardship.
Personal representative
This is an adult or organization that is appointed to receive and manage your AISH benefits when
you need help making financial decisions. They have the same responsibility to tell AISH about
any changes in your household, financial or medical situation as you do. A personal
representative may include:
• an informal trustee appointed by AISH who is called a financial administrator; this person or
organization may be appointed with or without your approval when you:
are unable to make decisions in a way that meets your basic needs, or
have a pattern of using your benefits in a way that puts your health at risk, such as not
buying food or not paying your rent and getting evicted
• a trustee, which is an organization or adult who is appointed by the Court under the Adult
Guardianship and Trusteeship Act
28 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020• an adult who is appointed by you to manage your benefits under a Power of Attorney.
Sponsored immigrant
A person who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has:
• an approved sponsor who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and 18 years or older
and legally supports the person, who is a family member, to become a permanent resident of
Canada
• applied for permanent residence under Family Class immigration category described on the
federal government’s glossary at cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/glossary.
Spouse or partner
A spouse or partner refers to a relationship where two people:
• are living together, married or consider themselves in a common law relationship, or
• are married or living together and have a natural or adopted child together, or
• share each other’s lives and consider themselves to be a family and share expenses, or
• depend on each other financially, but are not living together – for example, one partner may
be living in a nursing home.
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 29Contact information AISH office locations Visit or call an office location near you between 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. For TTY service, call 1-800-232-7215 or 780-427-9999 in Edmonton. AISH office locations and TTY services are closed during statutory holidays. Athabasca AISH Office Barrhead AISH Office Bonnyville AISH Office Duniece Centre Provincial Building 5201 44 Street 3rd Floor, 4810 50 Street 6203 49 Street, Box 4597 Box 4663 Athabasca, AB T9S 1C9 Barrhead, AB T7N 1A5 Bonnyville, AB T9N 0H1 Phone: 780-675-6853 Phone: 780-674-8209 Phone: 780-815-4041 Fax: 780-674-8366 Fax: 780-674-8366 Fax: 780-840-2005 Bow Corridor AISH Office Calgary East – Westland Camrose AISH Office Provincial Building Alberta Supports Centre Gemini Centre 3rd Floor, 800 Railway Ave 2752 Sunridge Way NE 3rd Floor, 6708 48 Avenue Canmore, AB T1W 1P1 Calgary, AB T1Y 0A5 Camrose, AB T4V 4S3 Phone: 403-678-2363 Phone: 403-297-8511 Phone: 780-608-2539 Fax: 403-297-6221 Fax: 403-297-6221 Fax: 780-608-4078 Cold Lake AISH Office Crowsnest Pass AISH Office Drayton Valley AISH Office #408, 6501B 51 Street Provincial Building 5136 51 Avenue Box 698 12501 20 Avenue, Box 870 Box 7595 Cold Lake, AB T9M 1P2 Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0 Drayton Valley, AB T7A 1S7 Phone: 780-840-2002 Phone: 403-562-3285 Phone: 780-542-3134 Fax: 780-840-2005 Fax: 403-562-3247 Fax: 780-621-4022 Drumheller AISH Office Edmonton AISH Office Edson AISH Office Riverside Centre, 2nd Floor, Westcor Building Provincial Building 180 Riverside Dr, Box 2079 #500, 12323 Stony Plain Road #102, 111 54 Street Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y0 Edmonton, AB T5N 4B4 Edson, AB T7E 1T2 Phone: 403-823-1616 Phone: 780-415-6300 Phone: 780-723-8215 Fax: 403-823-1777 Fax: 1-844-686-9358 Fax: 780-674-8366 Fort McMurray AISH Office Grande Prairie AISH Office High Level AISH Office Provincial Building, 7th Floor, Town Centre Mall Provincial Building 9915 Franklin Avenue #100, 9845 99 Avenue 10106 100 Avenue Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4 Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0R3 High Level, AB T0H 1Z0 Phone: 780-743-7106 Phone: 780-833-4399 Phone: 780-841-4335 Fax: 780-743-7100 Fax: 780-833-4397 Fax: 780-926-2114 30 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020
High Prairie AISH Office Hinton AISH Office Lac La Biche AISH Office
Provincial Building 568 Carmichael Lane Provincial Building
2nd Floor, 5226 53 Avenue Hinton, AB T7V 1S8 9503 Beaverhill Road
Box 849 Phone: 780-817-3790 Box 2643
High Prairie, AB T0G 1E0 Fax: 780-674-8366 Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0
Phone: 780-523-6651 Phone: 780-623-5361
Fax: 780-624-6212 Fax: 780-840-2005
Lethbridge AISH Office Lloydminster AISH Office Medicine Hat AISH Office
Provincial Building Provincial Building Provincial Building
200 5 Avenue S 2nd Floor, 5124 50 Street #201A, 346 3 Street SE
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4L1 Lloydminster, AB T9V 0M3 Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0G7
Phone: 403-381-5186 Phone: 780-871-6418 Phone: 403-529-3550
Fax: 403-388-3136 Fax: 780-871-6408 Fax: 403-529-3662
Morinville AISH Office Olds AISH Office Peace River AISH Office
Provincial Building 4500 50 Street Provincial Building
2nd Floor, 10008 107 Street Olds AB, T4H 1R6 1st Floor, 9621 96 Avenue
Morinville, AB T8R 1L3 Phone: 403-507-8060 Peace River, AB T8S 1T4
Phone: 780-939-1239 Fax: 403-556-8940 Phone: 780-624-6135
Fax: 1-844-686-9358 Fax: 780-624-6212
Red Deer AISH Office Rocky Mountain House Slave Lake AISH Office
Provincial Building Provincial Building Government Centre
#109, 4920 51 Street 4919 51 Street, Box 1180, #108, 101 3 Street SW
Red Deer, AB T4N 6K8 Rocky Mountain House, AB Box 70
Phone: 403-340-7077 T4T 1A8 Slave Lake, AB T0G 2A0
Fax: 403-755-6171 Phone: 403-845-8590 Phone: 780-849-7216
Fax: 403-845-8330 Fax: 780-624-6212
St. Paul AISH Office Vegreville AISH Office Westlock AISH Office
Provincial Building 5121 49 Street Ron Dales Building
#309, 5025 49 Ave, Box 46 Box 1590 11304 99 Street
St. Paul, AB T0A 3A4 Vegreville, AB T9C 1S7 Westlock, AB T7P 0A4
Phone: 780-614-6511 Phone: 780-632-8686 Phone: 780-349-7729
Fax: 780-614-6418 Fax: 780-603-2460 Fax: 780-674-8366
Wetaskiwin AISH Office Whitecourt AISH Office
Macadil Building Midtown Mall
Main Floor, 5201 51 Avenue 2nd Floor, 5115 49 Street
Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 0V5 Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N7
Phone: 780-361-5163 Phone: 780-778-7226
Fax: 780-361-5164 Fax: 780-614-6418
May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 31Other help AISH Application Processing Centre If you want to submit an application for the AISH program or if you have an inquiry about the status of your application: PO Box 17000 Station Main Edmonton, AB T5J 4B3 Phone: 1-877-759-6810 (toll free) or 587-759-6810 Fax: 1-877-969-3006 (toll free) or 587-469-3006 Alberta Supports Helping you find and apply for benefits and services to meet your needs. Find the nearest Alberta Supports Centre location and contact information at albertasupports.ca. Toll-free: 1-877-644-9992 Fax: 780-422-9681 Email: css.ascc@gov.ab.ca Office hours: 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays Emergency assistance Contact your AISH worker if you need help with an emergency during weekdays from 8:15 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or use the information above to contact AISH. During evenings, weekends or holidays you can get emergency assistance for basic needs like shelter, food, clothing and transportation by contacting the 24-hour Income Support Contact Centre: Toll-free: 1-866-644-5135 Fax: 780-422-9681 Email: css.iscc@gov.ab.ca Report misuse of AISH funds If you suspect someone is misusing funds or benefits issued by AISH, you can contact the Investigation Unit. 32 Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish | May 2020
Phone: 780-643-6584 in Edmonton Toll-free: Outside Edmonton area, dial 310-0000, then 780-643-6584 Email: css.csinvestigations@gov.ab.ca © 2020, Community and Social Services, Government of Alberta Your Guide to AISH This publication is released under the Open Government License. open.alberta.ca/licence May 2020 | Your Guide to AISH | alberta.ca/aish 33
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